Delayed growth in two German shepherd dog littermates with normal serum concentrations of growth hormone, thyroxine, and cortisol

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990 Jan 1;196(1):77-83.

Abstract

Four German Shepherd Dogs from a litter of 10 were evaluated because of postnatal onset of proportionate growth stunting that clinically resembled well-documented hypopituitary dwarfism in that breed. Although 2 pups had histologic evidence of hypopituitarism, the remaining 2 pups had normal serum growth hormone concentration and adrenocorticotropin secretory capability, and normal adrenal function test and thyroid function study results. Furthermore, the initially stunted German Shepherd Dogs grew at a steady rate until at 1 year, body weight and shoulder height approximated normal measurements. Seemingly, delayed growth in these pups may represent one end of a clinical spectrum associated with hypopituitarism in German Shepherd Dogs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases / blood*
  • Dogs
  • Dwarfism, Pituitary / blood
  • Dwarfism, Pituitary / veterinary
  • Female
  • Growth Disorders / blood
  • Growth Disorders / veterinary*
  • Growth Hormone / blood*
  • Hydrocortisone / blood*
  • Hypopituitarism / blood
  • Hypopituitarism / veterinary
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis
  • Male
  • Pituitary Gland / analysis
  • Pituitary Gland / physiopathology
  • Thyroid Gland / physiopathology
  • Thyroxine / blood*

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Growth Hormone
  • Thyroxine
  • Hydrocortisone